Will the S.I. jinx make Notre Dame its next victim?

Nov. 20, 2012
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A Notre Dame flag waves in the first quarter of the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-0. / Matt Cashore, US Presswire

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Will the Sports Illustrated jinx claim its next victim on Saturday night?

Up next: Notre Dame. This week's cover is all Irish, from the headline "The Notre Dame Miracle" to the gold helmet (complete with a reflection of Touchdown Jesus) to the Latin phrase "Miraculum Dominae Nostrae MMXII," which translated means, yes, "Go Irish." (I took French in high school.)

The Irish, 11-0, take on Matt Barkley-less USC Saturday. With a win, Notre Dame can clinch a spot in January's national championship game.

But to get to 12-0, Notre Dame would need to navigate past Sports Illustrated's long and illustrious history as a jinx machine.

The jinx is still alive and kicking when it comes to college football. The Nov. 13 edition of Sports Illustrated featured Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein; four days later, Klein and the Wildcats lost to Baylor 52-24.
A few other examples of the Sports Illustrated jinx in college football:

Aug. 2010: Texas is labeled as one team capable of winning the national title. The Longhorns go on to finish 5-7 and out of bowl play.

Nov. 2009: Iowa gets on the cover, under the headline "Still Perfect," after starting 9-0. On Saturday, the Hawkeyes lose to Northwestern 17-10.

Sept. 2009: Oklahoma, featured on regional covers of the Sports Illustrated college football preview, loses its season opener to BYU and goes 8-5.